Arsenal have set their sights on Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, yet they will have to contend with interest from Paris Saint‑Germain and Barcelona, according to Atletico boss Diego Simeone. The manager made the comments during his pre‑match press conference ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League semi‑final first leg at the Metropolitano Stadium.
When asked about rumours linking the Argentine forward with the Gunners, Simeone replied, "I’m not inside Julian Alvarez’s head," before adding, "It’s normal that an extraordinary player like Julian Alvarez is wanted by Arsenal, Paris Saint‑Germain, Barcelona. It’s normal because he’s very good." Alvarez has been a prolific scorer for Atletico since his £82 million transfer from Manchester City, finding the net 48 times in 104 appearances. He arrived at the Spanish club after a successful spell in England where he helped City secure back‑to‑back Premier League titles and a historic treble in the 2022/23 season. The 26‑year‑old also boasts a World Cup winners’ medal, having been part of Argentina’s victorious 2022 campaign.
The Arsenal connection is not new. Sporting director Andrea Berta, who negotiated Alvarez’s move from the Etihad to the Metropolitano, knows the player well and has reportedly kept tabs on his progress. However, Atletico have made it clear that they are not eager to part with their Argentine star. Even if Alvarez were to request a move, the club has placed a valuation of around £130 million on him.
Alvarez missed Atletico’s two most recent fixtures due to a minor injury, but the club expects him to be fit for the upcoming semi‑final clash with Arsenal. The Gunners, meanwhile, bolstered their attack last summer by signing Viktor Gyökeres, the former Sporting Lisbon forward who has already become their leading scorer this season with 18 goals. Gyökeres was briefly dropped for Kai Havertz, who then suffered an injury against Newcastle, leaving Arsenal’s front line in a state of flux.
Sky Sports reports that Arsenal intend to be active in the summer transfer window, targeting a forward, a central midfielder and a full‑back to strengthen a squad that narrowly missed out on a league title. While Alvarez remains a top priority, a source close to the player suggested that, should he leave Atletico, his personal preference would be a move to Barcelona. Other Spanish insiders, however, doubt any firm preference, pointing out the slim odds of a transfer this summer given Atletico’s high price tag. Both clubs approach Wednesday’s match with lofty ambitions.
Atletico are chasing their first Champions League triumph, a milestone that would cement Simeone’s legacy after four semi‑final appearances in the past 14 years. Simeone reflected on the achievement, saying, "It’s extraordinary that Atletico Madrid is in a Champions League semi‑final again after nine years, and after doing it for the fourth time in 14 years, if I’m not mistaken.
That really is wonderful, it’s incredible." He continued, "In terms of pressure, I don’t feel the pressure. It is exciting to be as close as we are. We have never achieved it before. It is a special excitement.
Leadership defines these games and we need to be ready and take the game to where we believe we can punish them. We will have a very tough game, against a fantastic rival and we are very excited about it." The two sides have already met this season, with Arsenal handing Atletico a 4‑0 defeat at the Emirates in the league phase in October. Simeone warned that Arsenal’s dead‑ball proficiency could be a decisive factor, noting the Gunners’ well‑rehearsed set‑piece routines. "We are going to face a tough game with a very good opponent and with a set‑piece strategy that is very well worked," he said.
"Let’s go with all the excitement." Alvarez’s own focus, according to the Argentine, remains on winning the Champions League with his club and then turning his attention to the World Cup with Argentina. He has not publicly indicated a desire to leave, but the speculation surrounding his future continues to swirl. Atletico captain Koke, whose contract expires at the end of the season, echoed the collective enthusiasm. "In the lead‑up to these games, we are always excited.
We feel butterflies in our stomach. It is just like a first date. Then once you start warming up, it’s all gone, it’s just a football game, and you are as excited as you would be for any semi‑final. We expect a very strong Arsenal side.
This is a Champions League semi‑final and that is how we approach it," he said. Both managers understand the magnitude of the occasion. Simeone stressed that football does not owe anyone anything; success must be earned through hard work, determination and a bit of luck.
"Things are deserved and achieved and for that you have to work and seek them, and obviously have luck behind you too," he concluded. As the two teams prepare for what promises to be a tightly contested encounter, the question of Alvarez’s future looms large. Whether Arsenal can outbid PSG and Barcelona, or whether the Argentine will remain at Atletico and continue his quest for European glory, remains to be seen.
The semi‑final will not only decide who progresses to the final but may also shape the transfer landscape for the upcoming summer window.